STAKENDE BOBBEJAANTROP OPPAD OM LAND SE EKONOMIE TE KELDER

Decision on government wage offer by Tuesday - CosatuThe Congress of South African Trade Unions has further supported the public sector’s wage demand of 8,6%. Nickolaus Bauer with Reuters Published: 2010/08/13 09:10:13 AM

The Congress of South African Trade Unions said on Friday that a decision on government’s latest public sector wage offer will be made by Tuesday.

The South African government increased its offer to more than a million state workers in an effort to head off a mass strike, sources in the talks said on Thursday.

The government offered to increase the monthly housing allowance to R700 from R630, but kept its wage rise offer at 7%, the sources said. The unions are demanding an 8.6% pay rise and R1,000 for housing.

At the same time the labour federation reaffirmed their support for the public sector’s wage demand of 8,6%.

Patrick Craven - Cosatu spokesperson told Business Day that whilst union members will consider all offers, he maintained that the 8,6% demand for salaries is not a huge ask for the South African government.

“It (the increase) is no serious problem, the increase is the least of our worries,” Craven said.

Craven said the labour federation welcomed movement in wage talks after deadlocks were experienced earlier in the week, but added that union leadership will not take part in any decision made by workers.

“Its up to the members to decide if this is adequate - leadership will not influence their decision,” he said.

Among those threatening to walk off the job are customs and immigration officers, health workers, police and clerks.

Johannesburg - The Public Servants Association (PSA) is balloting its 210 000 members on whether they should go on strike over what they consider an unacceptable pay offer, according to a statement on Tuesday.

"The responses received to date via the various provincial structures clearly indicate that the majority of members who participated in the mandating processes are in favour of strike action and this support base is growing daily", said PSA deputy general manager Manie de Clercq.

Conciliation failed on June 29 when both sides became stuck at a 6.5% increase and a hike in the housing allowance from R500 to R620 per month.

The conciliator issued a certificate on June 29 indicating that the various disputes remain unresolved.

De Clercq said so far 80% of their members had opted to strike, and they hoped to finalise the canvassing by Friday. They worked in home affairs, deeds offices, immigration and public hospitals.

Other unions also bargaining in that chamber include the SA Democratic Nurses Union (Denosa), the National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union, the Police and Prisoners' Civil Rights Union, the SA Onderwysersunie (SA Teachers' Union) - up to 1.3 million employees according to De Clercq.

Denosa spokesperson Asanda Fongqo confirmed they were part of the Congress of SA Trade Unions sector within the bargaining chamber and had their sights set on the same salary and related improvements, which included a housing allowance of R1 000 and an increased medical aid contribution.

He defended asking for an increase over the 4.6% inflation rate, saying it was "definitely not high" compared with the rocketing cost of living.

They had been flexible with their negotiations, dropping from their initial demand of 13%, but the government had not budged. They believed public servants deserved increased salaries so that, for example, nurses could be retained.

Public Service spokesperson Dumisani Nkwamba said Minister Richard Baloyi, was meeting unions on Wednesday in the hopes of finding a resolution to the impasse. Further details would be made available after that meeting.